With seniors finishing their last days of high school this week, the baseball season has also been approaching its end. Soon, postseason will start, with the Vikings hoping to move past districts this year.
On Monday, May 7, The Academy baseball team defeated London, winning 7-4 with a final surge in the seventh inning.
The Vikings fought hard in an attempt to capture the MSL-Ohio title from defending champion, Bexley on Wednesday May 4, but failed to steal it from the Lions, losing 10-12. This loss was somewhat unprecedented as the Vikings, number one in the league with a record of 13-0, were seeded above Bexley, sitting at second with just one loss to the Vikings earlier this season. In the previous game of the season, however, at which Academy had ousted Bexley 9-3, the Lion’s best pitcher, Tommy Bruning’17 who holds several state records on OHSAA did not pitch, which enabled Academy to sail to victory.
The game began with Bexley leading by three after the third inning. Despite valiant efforts from various members of the team, the Vikes could not gain the momentum to surge past their opponent. The night was Senior Night, and the excitement of the team members was apparent as many seniors gave spectacular performances. Jake Mitchell’16 had three hits and Matthew Watters’16 pitched for three innings with 15 first-pitch strikes and two strikeouts. Yet, these efforts paled in comparison to Bruning’s 12 first-pitch strikes combined with 5 strikeouts that shut-out the Academy batters.
Looking to redeem themselves after the stinging loss to Bexley, the Vikings set out to defeat opponent Bishop Hartley on Thursday, May 5, but, ultimately, fell to another loss. After going into the sixth inning tied, the boys failed to keep Bishop Hartley from scoring two more runs in the last inning, losing 5-7.
On Saturday, May 7, the losing streak continued for Academy, which lost both games in a double header against Newark Catholic. In the first game, the boys failed to keep up offensively, with five hits compared to their opponent’s eight. Although the Vikings were able to muster four hits, they only managed to score one run in the second game against Newark Catholic.
With these four recent losses and districts looming in the horizons, the Vikes need to find a game plan that will help them move further in the postseason than previous years.
Photo by Olivia Ryan’18
